Fender Design - Wheel Arch Challenge

FENDER DESIGN-WHEEL ARC CHALLENGE

AIM:

To create a report on fender regulation and to calculate the wheel Arc area and prove whether the car will pass the standards or Not by Using the Europian Standards.

FENDER:

A fender is the part of a car that protects and frames its wheels and keeps mud from splashing it. Most modern vehicles have fenders on their front wheels. It is the part of a car, truck or motorcycle that surrounds the wheel well. The primary function of a Fender is to prevent dirt and debris from being thrown into the air by the tire.

The fender is located over the wheels of the vehicle. As such, there are four fenders on a typical vehicle: front right, front left, rear right and rear left.

TYPES OF FENDER:

The type of fender is based upon the area covered i.e.,

• Full fender type
• Half fender type

Full Fender Type:

Full fender type is traditional type of fender where more material consumption is observed. This type is used in old design of automobiles where it increases the overall weight and thus reduces performance. The maintenance also relatively more due to more surface.

Half fender type:

Half fender type is modern design where less material consumption is observed, so productivity increases by reducing size of blank and thus providing more performance. The maintenance also relatively low compared to full bumper type.

WHEEL ARCH CHALLENGE:

• Wheel Arch is the semi-circular part of the fender positioned above the wheel of the vehicle.
• The design of Wheel arch of a fender should be such that it must shield wheels and protect both passengers’ compartment and pedestrians from projection of water, mud and stones.
• For the vehicle to has its use permit in different countries, the wheel arch of fenders must be compliant with the standards and regulations set by the respective countries.

Objective of the Wheel Arch Challenge:

The objective of the wheel arch challenge is to calculate the wheel arch area and to prove whether the given fender of car will pass the European standards or not.

European Standards for Wheel Arch:

• The clearance "L" as shown in above fig at all the five sections SA-SA, SB-SB, SC-SC, SD-SD and SE-SE should be greater than 10 mm.
• Wheel Guard Requirement: The value of "a" shall be more than 5 mm at a line 30° forward and 50° rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

Obtaining Results:

Software Used: NX 12 (CAD)

Sketch is drawn on the wheel face as per the European standards provided and projected on the wheel arch at sections SA, SB, SC, SD and SE to measure "L", "a" and wheel arch area.

1. Obtaining the value of clearance "L"
2. a) Measuring "L' for the given wheel and fender at SB:

The value of "L" at SB = 10.000 mm

1. b) Measuring "L' for the given wheel and fender at SA:

The value of "L" at SA = 9.950 mm

1. c) Measuring "L' for the given wheel and fender at SC:

The value of "L" at SC = -0.113 mm

1. d) Measuring "L' for the given wheel and fender at SD:

The value of "L" at SD = -2.886 mm

1. e) Measuring "L' for the given wheel and fender at SE:

The value of "L" at SE = -5.997 mm

Table A: Clearance "L" obtained at sections SA, SB, SC, SD and SE

From table A, the given fender doesn't pass the European standards for wheel arch area at sections SA, SC, SD and SE.

1. Obtaining the value of clearance "a" for Wheel Guard Requirement:
2. a) Finding the value of "a" at line 30° forward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

The value of "a" at line 30° forward from centre vertical axis of the wheel = 43.626 mm

b) Finding the value of "a" at line 50° rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel.

The value of "a" at line 50° rearward from centre vertical axis of the wheel = 38.359 mm

Table B: Clearance "a" obtained at sections SB (at 30° forward from centre axis), SC (at 50° rearward from centre axis).

From table B, the given fender passes the European standards for wheel arch area only in the case of clearance "a".

C. Wheel Arch Area of the given Fender

Wheel Arch Area = 24432.93 mm2

Wheel Arch Radius = 421.18 mm 5.

Conclusion:

From the above results obtained, we can conclude that the given fender doesn't pass the European Standards for Wheel Arch area.